A Night at Tears of Crimson

by Hughes, Michelle

  Angela handed him the note, unable to tear her eyes away from Rafe. A strange calmness overcame her and she breathed a soft sigh as her anger melted away as quickly as it had begun. She felt a soft tingling in her mind and confusion overcame her. What had she wanted to say to him?

  He read over Cara’s note feeling an ache where his heart once beat. She was confused, scared and needed a little time to herself to discover if she was willing to continue on in their relationship. Forcing the anger back he tried to think logically and not as the monster inside of him demanded. She had no idea what wrath she had brought onto herself by leaving the area and he knew he should have explained things better but there had been so little time.

  As if on cue Gabe stormed in through his office door without knocking. “Where is the girl,” he demanded his fangs protruding.

  “Be calm brother she is isolated and will not reveal our secrets,” Rafe knew he had to diffuse this situation as much as possible before Gabe began to track her. “Angela just gave me her location and she will be easy to find.”

  Gabe’s wild eyes landed on the other human. “For her sake I hope she has kept her mouth shut,” he delved into Angela’s mind reading the conversation they had earlier and felt his anger lessen. Lowering in front of Angela he pulled her head back by her hair and sank his fangs into her flesh deeply suckling a few precious drops before sealing the wound. The small taste of her blood was like a map to Cara’s location and he stood to face Rafe.

  “You were lucky this time brother,” Gabe shook his head, “these humans' are nothing but trouble.”

  “She is mine brother, I claim ownership,” he knew that Gabe would respect his decision even if he was completely against the concept. He saw the disgust that filled his brother’s face and knew had he not claimed the girl he would have destroyed her. The thought filled him with such rage he had trouble containing it and his fangs descended as a hiss escaped.

  “That you are willing to fight your Creator over a human disgusts me,” Gabe fought to restrain the bloodlust that was building inside of him. “Tomorrow night the Elder's meet, I will return your human but be assured if you can’t control her, I will!” with those words he disappeared into a gray mist.

  Rafe filled Angela’s mind with an allusion of their disagreement and removed Gabe’s bite from her memory as well before sending her down to start her shift. He summoned Anthony to his office with a thought and waited impatiently until he arrived. As his minion walked in he gave his orders quickly. “I am leaving the bar in your control and Michael's for a few days, make sure Michael is aware, and do not disappoint me,” he knew Anthony would do whatever was required.

  “I will keep the employees safe,” Anthony stated with a brief nod of his head. He had waited for long years while serving Rafe to be accepted, and knew that this task would assure his desire of becoming a vampire.

  “When I return the process will begin,” Rafe nodded having never sired his own child, and knowing it was long past time. “The Elder's will be pleased,” he nodded to Anthony and handed over the keys. “Keep a strong vigil in my absence, there may be trouble,” he left and he made his way back to the mansion knowing Gabe would return shortly with Cara. He needed time to control his anger before that happened. She had endangered her own life by leaving and the thought left him colder than normal.

  Gabe took to the night sky needing to calm himself before dealing with Rafe’s human. He could have easily appeared instantly at her location but soaring through the sky calmed him. As his feet landed in front of her cabin he beckoned her outside knowing the blood bond they shared would bring her to him instantly.

  She felt like she'd only been sleeping a few minutes when the urge to walk outside overcame her. Maybe she had left the car lights on, she told herself, trying to think of a reasonable explanation for the urge to walk outside. Her eyes widened as she saw Gabe’s huge form standing by her car. Her knees began to shake at the unmistakable anger in his glare.

  “You are definitely a lot of trouble, even for a human,” he wanted to destroy the girl for all the trouble she was causing on a night when he needed to be focused on the war that was beginning back home. If Rafe hadn’t claimed the girl she would be laying at his feet lifeless, he thought as his fangs descended. The code of honor they lived by demanded that he not harm her. “You have wasted enough of my time for one evening.” glaring at the girl he knew that if he were to keep his word, they needed to leave here immediately. “I am returning you to Rafe and if you have any common sense in that little human brain of yours you will not give me any grief.”

  He sensed she wouldn't argue with him, obviously, because he opened the passenger side door of her car and she sat down passively. “Drive.” he demanded and he laid his head back closing his eyes.

  She was furious that he expected her to follow his orders like a slave, but she did exactly as he asked. She knew that Gabe was just not a vampire you wanted to cross, and she didn't think it would have mattered if he were even human. He was huge and foreboding, his size alone enough to make a grown man think twice about crossing him.

  After only a few hours, Gabe motioned to an exit sign and demanded she take it. Terrified that he was going to beat her senseless and leave her out in the middle of nowhere, she began trembling.

  “While that idea has certain appeal,” he laughed chillingly, “I think I'll pass for the moment.”

  She refused to let him goad her into an argument, because she wasn't at all sure he wasn't serious. She took the exit, and he gave her direction to where he wanted to go. That place happened to be an old historical home that seemed to have been completely renewed to its former glory.

  There wasn't another home around for miles, and that gave her the weeping willies. There was absolutely nothing stopping him from killing her and leaving her there to die.

  Gabe laughed out loud, the vibration so strong it was shaking her small SUV. “You definitely have one hell of an imagination girl,” he couldn't stop laughing. “If I wanted you dead, you can damn sure bet you wouldn't be here now,” he promised with a smirk. “As it is, this driving shit is boring me and we're going to leave your car with some friends of mine.”

  “What if I don't want to leave my car with your friends?” she asked him flippantly.

  “One thing you need to understand girl, is that your needs are of no concern to me at all, you are more trouble than your worth,” he replied coldly.

  She wondered how he knew what she was worth, since he hadn't spent more than fifteen minutes in her company in the time she had known him.

  Laughing again at her thoughts he spoke, “Is that an offer little girl?”

  She glanced over at him completely shocked. “Don't hold your breath,” she managed to throw out as he was getting out.

  He came over to her side and opened the door, “So you didn’t enjoy my touch last night?” he questioned, obviously knowing the answer already.

  She refused to answer him and he pulled her out of the car with ease. Her face was bright red, and she wanted to kick him in his most vulnerable of places.

  “Thought so,” he laughed pulling her against his chest and kissing her soundly on the lips.

  She struggled against him in vain as his lips continued ravishing hers. He lowered his hand down to her backside and squeezed and she gasped in shock. He chose that moment to slide his tongue into her mouth, tasting every recess. Rafe needed to teach the girl some manners and since it's was obvious he was to pussy-whipped to do it himself, he took it upon himself. As quickly as it started he pushed her away, “Don't play games when you don't know the rules little girl.”

  As angry as she was, she still couldn't help but want him physically in some way as well. It was humiliating beyond belief and she turned her back to him in defiance.

  He knew her thoughts and laughed again out loud. “Don't give yourself grief, girl,” he whispered in amusement, “I tasted you, of course you would desire me. If I wanted to, I could have you down
on your knees begging me to fuck you, just like I did with your little friend." He knew that would piss her off and it gave him great satisfaction.

  She vowed mentally that she would never allow herself to fall under his spell again. Her face burned in humiliation at how easily he had taken over her thoughts last night.

  “I love a challenge, sweetheart,” he sneered, “be careful that you don't pique my interest.” He warned while allowing his eyes to roam over her body.

  It was a warning she decided to adhere to. He had already proven how powerful he was and she definitely didn't need another lesson, she thought to herself.

  Reading her thoughts his arms wrapped around her waist, smirking as she gasped out loud thinking he was going to show her again just how easily she could be manipulated. He had no intention of wasting any more time and lifted her quickly into the night sky. She struggled in his hold until she realized how high they lifted off the ground and he chuckled in superiority.

  She couldn't believe it, they were flying through the night. As much as she hated him, she couldn't help but be astonished at the beauty of traveling this way. She wrapped her arms around his hands in front of her and held on tightly. She felt the vibrations moved through his body knowing he was laughing but at that moment she didn't care if he was amused. She had no intention of being plummeted to the ground.

  Cara felt like she could reach up and touch the stars, they were so close. The clouds were like a foggy mist as they sailed through them and her heart raced in enchantment, as the fear of falling dissipated. The wind was cool and she held her face up allowing it to caress her gently.

  She couldn't help the smile that crossed her face, or the feeling of euphoria that surged through her entire being. There were definitely some good parts about being a vampire, she was learning quickly.

  11 Tears of Submission

  Gabe brought them down in front of Rafe's mansion and hoped that his child would punish the human in the way she deserved. He refused to let the girl go even as they landed, because the thoughts running through her mind screamed that she would try to flee. Calvin met them at the door, answering his persistent knock. He could only shake his head at the man offering the girl a look of sympathy. What was it about this creature that caused the men to care about her welfare, he thought in disgust. Tightening his grip on her painfully, he walked inside the hall waiting for Rafe to appear.

  She didn't whimper at his grip, even knowing her arms would show the bruises of his rough handling in the morning. Calvin's look had her even more terrified of how Rafe would respond to the way she had left. If she weren't being held captive, there was no doubt in her mind that she would run as fast as her legs could carry her. She knew what a coward she was being, and mentally prepared herself for the meeting that was inevitable.

  Rafe met them in the foyer and his expression was teaming with rage. His fangs were protruding and his hands were tightly curled into fists. “Living room,” he shouted to Gabe as he stormed off in that direction. Her fear of him was fueling his anger and he couldn't deal with her betrayal without calming his own savage nature first.

  She had expected him to be angry, but not so full of wrath that he was ready to bite her head off. She felt her own anger begin rise at how overbearing he was being. So what if she left him, who did he think he was having his Creator haul her back like a naughty child?

  Controlling the demon in him by sheer will alone, he reminded his manners enough to dismiss Calvin from the scene. He knew that the man didn't like confrontations and from Cara's thoughts this was going to be a huge one. “We will take it from here Calvin,” he forced a grin smile.

  Calvin bowed and left the room with a last pitying glance to the girl. He had not seen Master Rafe in such a foul mood before and he struggled with his own conscious about leaving her with him until he calmed. He wouldn't be far if things grew past the point that he considered unacceptable.

  Turning his enraged eyes to his lover, he forced himself not to shout the question that demanded an answer. “Why did you leave without having the courtesy to talk to me in person?” he bit out through clenched teeth. He was struggling to contain himself and felt the heat in his gaze as it bore into hers.

  As angry as she had been moment ago, she was afraid to voice anything seeing the barely contained rage. His eyes were red and she gasped in fear. Lowering her eyes, she felt a trembling that moved throughout her entire body.

  “Damn it, say something to defend yourself woman!” He took a few steps back as the demon struggled to come forth. The scent of her blood was overwhelming to the beast and he knew to taste her now, he would drain her.

  Did he really not understand? she thought to herself in shock. He allowed his Creator to delve into her mind and force her to believe they had lain together. If that were not a grievous enough crime in her opinion, he had taken over her thoughts and forced her to feel things she would have never done on her own willingly. "What would you like me to say, Rafe?" she kept her eyes on the ground hating the fear she felt with him now. He had made her feel like a whore and didn't even have the decency to show any remorse for the act.

  "Is that what you think I did, Cara?" whatever he had been expecting it wasn't this. Forcing his hands to remain at his side, even as he longed to grab her chin and force her to look at him. "I gave you the choice to walk away last night, if you hate me so much you should have taken that out."

  "I don't hate you Rafe," her eyes finally lifted at his words. She was hurt, angry, and felt betrayed, but never could she imagine hating him. She could tell by the heated anger is his eyes that he doubted her words and wanted to weep.

  "Do you see what I meant about humans not being worthy of our race?" Gabriel shook his head in disgust not understanding why his child didn't put her in her place. A vampire would know that what Rafe did, was given in respect. He could have easily caused her agonizing pain with his bite and only his child's interference had gifted her with a reprieve.

  "She doesn't understand Gabe," Rafe ran his hand through his hair in exasperation, not needing to deal with his Creator's prejudice and his lovers ignorance at the same time. "I thank you for bringing her back to me, but please leave me deal with her on my own."

  Giving a hard look at the ungrateful girl he nodded curtly. "I will grant you this request Rafe, but know if this human defies the order again I will show her just how much pain she could have endured last night. He kept his eyes trained on the human as he spoke and seeing the stubborn look in her eyes, he left before he decided to drain her personally.

  "What did he mean by the pain he could have caused?" she was confused by Gabe's words and fought to contain her weariness. The last few hours had been emotionally draining and this conversation was taking all that was left of her composure. She just wanted the heartache to end. Just being in his presence made her body ache, and she knew that as upset as she was, she still loved him. She hated herself for the weakness and knew that the only way she could survive without him was to walk away. The thought of doing that made her soul ache.

  The thoughts rolling through her mind enraged him. She honestly thought she could just walk away now. "You have brought a situation on yourself that you can't run away from, Cara." The beast was pulsing inside his body with fury, she was his and only he could protect her now.

  Was he going to refuse to let her go? the thought was so incredulous that she could only stare up into his beautiful blue eyes. Didn't he understand that loving him was going to destroy everything she was? Tears of anguish filled her eyes as she stared with determination into his gaze. "You would keep me here against my will?" it broke her heart to think that he cared so little for her that he would consider it.

  Shaking his head at her assumption, he could see that she believed him capable of such cruelty. Perhaps he did possess the inclination, but how could she not know that he loved her more than his own immortal life? "I would save your life from those who would destroy you for betrayal," his own soul ached at her opini
on of him.

  His words shocked her, had she completely misread the situation? her mind couldn't help but wonder. The sorrow in his eyes showed more than a man bent on subduing her to his will. "Who would you be saving me from?" she asked the question feeling a sliver of fear move through her body at the desolation his gaze bore.

  "When you left last night, Gabe was instantly made aware of your disappearance," he fought against the fear that she would not understand just what that decision could mean for her. There was a reason Eduardo allowed you to leave with me, he knew that by demanding that Gabe tasted your blood, he could locate you at any time if you chose to reveal our world. Having tasted you himself, Eduardo would never allow you to live in your world without claiming you as his own. So you see Cara, I am the only thing that stands between you and being the owned pet of the Elder." Disgust filled him at having to coerce her this way, but he could not fight against the order of his race. If he tried, they would destroy them both.

  “But I wasn't going to betray you,” she stated, her voice trembling in trepidation now as she understood just what she could face.

  “You left without any explanation Cara,” Rafe shrugged, wishing he could appear unaffected but the thought that she wanted to leave, left him destroyed. "It is the only conclusion the Elder's would see, they will demand you to stand before them to prove your case.”

  "Can't you explain that I had no intention of revealing the truth?" she hated how her hands were trembling but the thought of being forced to stand before Eduardo again was overwhelming. He hadn't removed her memories of the night they had met, and she understood that he would show no compassion.